Dom Bousquet Gran Malbec

Dom Bousquet Gran Malbec is listed in the gin category. No botanical list, ABV or distillery details were supplied for it, so what follows describes how gins are typically built and served. It is not a measured profile of this bottle. Check the label for the botanicals and strength before you plan around a particular style. Most gins fall into one of two camps. Juniper-forward London dry styles lead with piney, resinous notes backed by coriander seed, angelica and citrus peel. Contemporary gins move juniper aside for fresh citrus, cucumber, floral or herbal botanicals. The first camp holds up best in a Martini or Negroni, where the juniper stays clear against vermouth or Campari. The second camp usually shines in long drinks, where its lighter aromatics aren't buried. For a Gin & Tonic, fill a balloon glass or tall highball with plenty of cold, hard ice. Use about 50 ml of gin and 100 to 150 ml of a good tonic poured gently to keep the fizz. A wedge or peel of lime or grapefruit suits a classic, piney gin. A cucumber ribbon or a sprig of rosemary or thyme usually flatters a softer, more floral one. A Tom Collins is a good second test. Shake the gin with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, then top it with soda over ice, and a gin with a clean citrus backbone will show well. For stirred drinks, a Negroni is equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari over a large cube, garnished with orange peel. A Martini is gin with a splash of dry vermouth, stirred over ice until very cold and served up with a lemon twist or an olive. If you want to know how the gin tastes on its own, chill it, pour a small measure over one large cube, and note whether juniper or citrus comes first.